The craft renaissance, with Giles Kime

Country Life's interiors expert Giles Kime joins James Fisher on the Country Life Podcast to talk about the amazing work being done across Britain — and how those who are doing it are recognised in the Country Life Top 100.

Clunie Fretton finishing a plaster sculpture at her London studio. She has worked at the Houses of Parliament and the V&A — Country Life Top 100 2026
Clunie Fretton — one of the wonderful craftspeople featured in the Country Life Top 100 — finishing a plaster sculpture at her London studio.
(Image credit: Fretton Handley)

Each year, the Country Life Top 100 names the very finest country house architects, interior designers, landscapers, garden designers and craftspeople in Britain. It's one of the magazine's undisputed highlights of the year, with our interiors expert Giles Kime spending months alongside experts from across the country to produce the final list.

We're delighted, then, that Giles joins James Fisher on the Country Life Podcast this week to talk about the 2026 list, to explain how it's evolved and developed for its latest iteration.

This year, the most striking change is in the number of artists, craftspeople and artisans who've earned recognition. Giles explains to James why that is, why craft is so important and becoming ever more so, and highlighting some of the wonderful people who are in this year's Top 100.

You can see the full Country Life Top 100 here; and to see Giles in person you can book a ticket for his conversation with Kit Kemp — a designer on the Top 100 list — at the Winchester Book Festival in April.

Episode credits

Host: James Fisher

Guest: Giles Kime

Editor and producer: Toby Keel

Music: JuliusH via Pixabay